Power Wagon Axle Help

[mmclain]

I have the opportunity to buy a front 44 and a rear 60 with 4.88 gears out of 68 power wagon for cheap....$200.00

I know the front axle is basically useless because of the closed knuckles and drum brakes, but the gears would be useful.

My question, which I can't seem to find a straight answer for this year axle, is does the 60 have 16 or 30 spline shafts. I believe they might be 16 spline, with a 5 x 5.5 lug pattern. Does anybody have any experience with the early year 60's?

 

[squashman702]

Is the front low pinion? If it is, doesn't seem like too much of a deal to be totally honest, especially if the 60 is 16 spline shafts.

I can see keeping the gears if they're reusable in an HP44, and the 60 if it's 30 spline. 30 spline 60's can be had for dirt cheap otherwise.

 

[MoparManiac]

30 spline 60s are almost free at this point.

A low pinion passenger drop D44 is pretty odd for an XJ.

Is it a closed knuckle drum brake axle?

Even more worthless.

 

[mmclain]

I know the front 44 is useless, the only reason I am interested in these axles are the gear sets and possibly the 60.

I have a newer HP44 that I could use the gearset for, but if the 60 is only a 16 spline, its not worth if for me. If its the 30 spline, it wouldn't be a bad deal.

They are about 1.5 hours away, I'd had to drive the whole way there to pull the shaft and find out it's only 16 spline, just trying to get as much info as I can. I can't seem to find a straight answer online as to the spline count.

 

[MoparManiac]

Can't use a LP gearset in a HP.

What size tire you going to run?

 

[cmelo]

30 spline dana 60 is just about my least favorite axle of all time. I should know, there's one in my truck.

 

[mmclain]

Maybe I should rephrase my question.

I know that you can't use LP gearset in a HP(reverse v standard rotation) and that the front axle is basically useless minus the gearset.

I also know that a 30 spline 60 is not that much stronger (axleshaft wise) than a dana 44, other than the larger axle tubes and it being ff.

I am only looking if anybody knows for sure what spline count it may be, other than actually pulling the axleshaft or getting the BOM off the axle.

 

[cmelo]

Maybe I should rephrase my question.

I know that you can't use LP gearset in a HP(reverse v standard rotation) and that the front axle is basically useless minus the gearset.

I also know that a 30 spline 60 is not that much stronger (axleshaft wise) than a dana 44, other than the larger axle tubes and it being ff.

I am only looking if anybody knows for sure what spline count it may be, other than actually pulling the axleshaft or getting the BOM off the axle.

No matter what, I would pull an axle shaft and check. If you truly want it go for it. But it's essentially just a 44 strength wise like you said. Having bigger gears and tubes and it being a full float offers nothing when the shafts are so easy to break. I've broken mine on 35s, on a much heavier truck, but still. I paid $450 mine, a 44 front(open knuckle), rear 60 and that's with 3 sets of extra shafts and lockers front and rear.

 

[mmclain]

That;s what I am leaning towards, I just hate to drive 3 hours round trip for nothing.

 

[cmelo]

That;s what I am leaning towards, I just hate to drive 3 hours round trip for nothing.

Just stay home and forget about them :thumbup:

For $200 you can get a better axle. The gears wouldn't make me too excited. You could find a decent axle with 4.56 gears if you keep your eyes peeled.

Did I mention I hate my rear axle?

 

[mmclain]

Just stay home and forget about them :thumbup:

For $200 you can get a better axle. The gears wouldn't make me too excited. You could find a decent axle with 4.56 gears if you keep your eyes peeled.

Did I mention I hate my rear axle?

Thanks, I guess I just needed somebody else to talk me out of it.

I am running waggy 44's f/r right now, they are in the process of being trussed. Still running stock gears (3.23). I am in the process of building a 300 4:1 right now, possibly closing on my first home in a week, just bought a welder, so money is kinda tight. I would really like to regear the axles, but I don't have the funds, I am hoping once the 4:1 is in it will hold me off of re-gearing for a while.

But thanks for saving me $200. I think I will just stick to the route I'm taking right now with the 44's and 4:1.

 

[cmelo]

Thanks, I guess I just needed somebody else to talk me out of it.

I am running waggy 44's f/r right now, they are in the process of being trussed. Still running stock gears (3.23). I am in the process of building a 300 4:1 right now, possibly closing on my first home in a week, just bought a welder, so money is kinda tight. I would really like to regear the axles, but I don't have the funds, I am hoping once the 4:1 is in it will hold me off of re-gearing for a while.

But thanks for saving me $200. I think I will just stick to the route I'm taking right now with the 44's and 4:1.

If you have 44s right now you will not like having a dana 60 that is heavier and has less ground clearance with the same strength. Something like a E250 dana 60 I bet could be had for $200-300, 4.10-4.56s, disc brakes and easy to find spare parts.

 

[ROBZ95Xj]

I garentee its a 16 spline pos, I jumped on a similar yeard70 just becase it had 4.88's wasted 200 on it

 

[Egodfrey]

Only reason I got a 30 spline is when I got my front 60 it came with it and had matching 5:38, spool and disc brakes

I am throwing chromo shafts in it and seeing how it holds up, but I foresee me boring the spindles and converting it to 35 spline eventually once I break the 30 spline chromos

 

[chedisme]

just do a 14bolt. there crazy cheap and super strong.

 

[Vanimal]

14b and forget it. i couldnt think of one good reason to use a dana 60 instead and i had 2 of them in the yard. you'll pay about nothing to $100 for a 14 bolt and many have 4.56's and even detroits. they are strong as hell in stock form.

 

[kastein]

There is a 4.56 geared 14 bolt for sale for $150 on the facebook offroad trading post right now. If you're going big enough tires to justify a 14bolt, there ya go...

I have a 60 waiting for my jeep but that's because I got it for a good price and all I got was tire kickers and flakes when I listed it to flip it just to see if it'd sell. Made my decision easy.

 

[MoparManiac]

I understand why everyone goes 14b. They're cheap and strong for our application.

I wanted to be different and bought a D60-ISU out of an E350.

Smooth bottom, 3.5" tubes, big bore spindles (35 spline stuff slips right in), flange instead of a yoke, and factory disc brakes with almost identical twin piston calipers as all the fronts use with monster slip off rotors.

The brakes are sweet (saves the cost of a disc brake conversion) and I'll take a flange over a yoke all day long. When I broke my rear leaf springs and spit out the driveshaft, I literally dragged the rear axle over rocks with the flange plowing into all of them. Still works mint.

The only things I added to mine were a 35 spline ARB and cut to length yukon shafts. So far been holding up mint to my 400+HP and 40" creepies.

 

[foxwar71]

I like my 14b cause its dumb, just like me


as for the power wagon axles, they are pretty much the lamest 44 & 60 ever made. I probably wouldnt even take them if they were free, theyre that lame.

 

[Vanimal]

I understand why everyone goes 14b. They're cheap and strong for our application.

I wanted to be different and bought a D60-ISU out of an E350.

Smooth bottom, 3.5" tubes, big bore spindles (35 spline stuff slips right in), flange instead of a yoke, and factory disc brakes with almost identical twin piston calipers as all the fronts use with monster slip off rotors.

The brakes are sweet (saves the cost of a disc brake conversion) and I'll take a flange over a yoke all day long. When I broke my rear leaf springs and spit out the driveshaft, I literally dragged the rear axle over rocks with the flange plowing into all of them. Still works mint.

The only things I added to mine were a 35 spline ARB and cut to length yukon shafts. So far been holding up mint to my 400+HP and 40" creepies.

i use e350 dana 60 disk brakes on my 14 bolt. i just made a flange for the backing plates. i kept the e-brakes and all. with the shave job, it has just as much clearance as my d44 did. not saying the d60 is a bad rear axle choice, it just made more sense from a budget and strength standpoint to go 14b. no need for chromoly shafts in most cases, and lockers are cheaper. the ease of gear setup also saved me some $$$.

ok fine, ill go back to my chapter